Varney the Vampire eBook

“Yes,” said Flora; “but he may have
done that, brother, still in furtherance of his object.”

“It may be so, and I will hope that it is so.
Keep yourself close, sister, and see no one, while
I proceed to his house to inquire if they have heard
anything of him. I will return soon, be assured;
and, in the meantime, should you see my brother, tell
him I shall be at home in an hour or so, and not to
leave the cottage; for it is more than likely that
the admiral has gone to Bannerworth Hall, so that you
may not see anything of him for some time.”

CHAPTER LXVIII.

MARCHDALE’S ATTEMPTED VILLANY, AND THE RESULT.

[Illustration]

Varney the vampyre left the dungeon of Charles Holland
amid the grey ruins, with a perfect confidence the
young man would keep his word, and not attempt to
escape from that place until the time had elapsed which
he had dictated to him.

And well might he have that confidence, for having
once given his word that he would remain until he
heard the clock strike two from a neighbouring church,
Charles Holland never dreamt for a moment of breaking
it.

To be sure it was a weary time to wait when liberty
appeared before him; but he was the soul of honour,
and the least likely man in all the world to infringe
in the slightest upon the condition which he had, of
his own free will, acceded to.

Sir Francis Varney walked rapidly until he came nearly
to the outskirts of the town, and then he slackened
his pace, proceeding more cautiously, and looking
carefully about him, as if he feared to meet any one
who might recognise him.

He had not proceeded far in this manner, when be became
conscious of the cautious figure of a man gliding
along in the opposite direction to that which he was
taking.

A suspicion struck him, from the general appearance,
that it was Marchdale, and if so he wondered to see
him abroad at such a time. Still he would not
be quite certain; but he hurried forward, so as to
meet the advancing figure, and then his suspicions
were confirmed; and Marchdale, with some confusion
in his looks and manners, accosted him.

“Ah, Sir Francis Varney,” he said, “you
are out late.”—­

“Why, you know I should be out late,”
said Varney, “and you likewise know the errand
upon which I was to be out.”

“Oh, I recollect; you were to release your prisoner.”—­

“Yes, I was.”

“And have you done so?”—­

“Oh, no.”

“Oh, indeed. I—­I am glad you
have taken better thoughts of it. Good night—­good
night; we shall meet to-morrow.”—­

“Adieu,” said Sir Francis Varney; and
he watched the retreating figure of Marchdale, and
then he added, in a low tone to himself,—­